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24rollbacksinthisstate.CertaincriteriawouldhavetobemetsuchasseparatingthesmokingareafromthediningareathetypeofthingsthatthecigarindustrycanlivewithaccordingtoLoope.ItwouldbeaverypositivemoveforMinnesotaandsetagoodexampleforothersasMinnesotawasoneoftherststatesinthecountrytopasssmokingbansheexplains.Aproposed1tax-capbillonpremiumcigarstohelpaugmentthe75percentOPtaxthatpassedlastyearhadalotoftractioninthestatelegislatureaccordingtoLoopewiththehopethatitwilldramaticallyhelpthestateofthecigarbusinessinthestateofNewYork.WhileitdidnotmakeitintothestatebudgettheCRAcommendedtheNewYorkSenateforincludingthelanguageintheirversion.MoreoverthisisstillstandinglegislationthatwouldaccomplishthesamegoalLoopesaysnotingthatthislegislationiscriticaltoboththeconsumerandretailtobacconistcommunityinthestateofNewYork.ForthersttimeinthestateshistoryastatewidesmokingbanhasbeenintroducedinSouthCarolina.Positivelegislationtorestoresomecigar-smokingfreedomalsoexistsinthestateofWashington.TislegislationwouldrollbackseriouschunksoftheirsmokingbanstatutewhichmakesitverysimilartoMinnesotasproposedlegislationbutaddsstifeesthatthecigarassociationcanlivewithaccordingtoLoope.Tistranslatestoa5000licensingfeetosmokeshopsanda15000licensingfeetorestaurantsthatwanttoallowsmokingonthepremises.Wethinkitcouldgenerate4millionperyeartothestatesaysLoope.ItsgotsomedecenttractionanditsalreadypassedtheHousecommitteesothatsaverypositivething.TeFoodandDrugAdministrationspossibleinvolvementinstogieregulationisthemostdangerousissueconcerningthecigarindustrymaintainsJ.GlynnLoopeexecutivedirectorofCigarRightsofAmericaCRA.OnApril262010theFDApublishedanoticeintheofitsintenttoregulatecigarsundertheFamilySmokingPreventionandobaccoControlActpassedbyCongressandsignedintolawbyPresidentObamain2009.CigarshadoriginallybeenexcludedfromthelawbutthelawalsoallowedfortheFDAtocomebacklaterandestablishregulatoryauthorityovercigars.NothingcameimmediatelyofthisbutthenonDec.202010abriefpostinginthebytheDepartmentofHealthHumanServicessuggestedcigarscouldcomeunderregulationbytheFDAassoonasJune2011.LoopementionsthatthereisaneorttogetsometypeofanexemptionpassednamelyintheformofpoliticalpressurefromCongresstogettheFDAtobackocigarsbecausecigarswerenotatargetofthatlegislationinthepasthesays.Itwasaboutcigarettesandsmokeless.ButLoopeisnotholdinghisbreathnorshouldtheindustry.ItsanoverlyzealousagencytheyreafterProhibitionitsanactivistagencyinthatregardwherethebureaucratsshowuptoworktryingtogureouthowtoputthisindustryoutofbusinesshesays.Telaundrylistofthingsthattheycouldconsidertodotothecigarindustryisdangerousthreateningandhastobetakenveryveryseriously.SowhatcancigarmanufacturersandcigarretailersdoYouhavetokeeppressureonyourrespectivemembersofCongresstotelltheFDAtobackopremiumcigarsthatsthebottomlinesaysLoope.Headdsthatitmayhelptogetthemessageoutthatcigarsareanall-naturalproduct.Whatcomesoutofthegroundiswhatyouaresmokingitdoesnthavechemically-infusedcharacteristicsLoopestates.TeFDAasidehealthactivistsandanti-tobaccogroupsarealsopartoftheproblem.AssociationssuchastheAmericanHeartAssociationtheAmericanCancerSocietytheAmericanLungAssociationhavedoneanabsolutelymasterfuljoboflumpingtogethereverytobaccoproductintothesamedemonizedpotstatesLoope.Franklythecigarindustryshouldhavebetterdierentiateditselffromothertobaccoproducts20yearsago.Butthereishope.ItwouldhavehelpedusonthepoliticalsideifwewerebetteronthepublicrelationssidebutIthinkthatssomethingthatcanhappennowaccordingtoLoope.WewillnotbetherstindustrytoclawourwaybackfrompoliticalArmageddon.AndpartofthatgoodPRthatLoopementionshastocomefromcigarmanufacturersbandingtogether.IfwedontndawaytoworktogetherweregoingtobecutoutonebyonesaysHarryPrestonnationalaccountsmanagerforJ.C.NewmanCigarCo.ahugesupporteroftheCRAasPrestonputsit.TOBNewYorkSouthCarolinaWashingtonTOBACCOOUTLETBUSINESSMAYJUNE2011FDAThreATSTillloomSFederalRegisterFederalRegister